MEU OFFICIAL INDUSTRIAL BRIEF
>From The General Secretary - Mr Brian Harris
January l999 =96 industrial Brief No 1
State Government - I will be seeking undertakings by Local Government on =
Competitive Tendering and other issues before the State Election. My =
correspondence to the State Government indicates it is essential that =
the Carr Labor Government reiterate its rejection of compulsory =
competitive tendering. In reforming the Local Government Act a =
re-elected Labor Government should:
* Ensure that councils determine their organizational structures in =
conjunction with their management plans so that council structures are =
better suited to meeting performance objectives;
* Require councils to consult with unions concerning changes in =
organizational structures and for such changes to be publicly =
advertised.
* In respect of senior staff, council should have the opportunity' to =
choose between fixed term contracts or open ended contracts subject to =
such staff members meeting required performance outcomes. The MEU urges =
the Government to abolish section 340 of the Act which presently =
excludes senior staff from the process of industrial arbitration;
* Require councils to advertise staff vacancies internally before =
advertising externally' so that better career paths can be developed =
within councils;
* Ensure councils are not able to establish business units that =
conflict with relevant awards and statutory requirements applying to =
local government generally';
* Ensure that lateral transfers within council organizational =
structures occur only between positions of equivalent skill, =
accountability and remuneration;
* Continue to specifically' consult local government unions on matters =
relating to staffing, award restructuring, skill development etc.
We have urged the Government to express a commitment to the =
implementation of these reforms on re-election in March 1999. On the =
release of an appropriate agenda for legislative reform we shall work in =
co-operation with the Government in communicating these initiatives to =
our membership.
A Combating Competitive Tendering Task Force (CCTTF) team has been =
established to fight Competitive Tendering. A number of Councils, in =
particular rural areas, are considering selling their towns jobs by =
introducing Competitive Tendering.
To provide Councils and members with the full picture, I have developed =
a project team comprising of Mark Wheatley (Southern Branch), Noel =
Martin (Newcastle Branch), Paul Reid (Metropolitan Branch) and Greg =
Mclean of the ASU National Office Sydney.
The team is currently working well together and putting members =
interests in the front line.
Waste Boards - 1 have instructed the Industrial Staff to pursue a =
specific Award for members in the area. We have already established an =
Enterprise Agreement covering; Waste Board members.
.
A Library training package is now being introduced Nationally and NSW =
key library Delegates interested in attending a briefing session - Fax =
0?92316?74 (Attention Greg Mclean).
The National electricity market has now started and NSW' authorities now =
competing against Queensland, Victoria and foreign companies. =
Electricity Salary Increase negotiations for the Distributors so far =
have the following offers.
NorthPower =96 3 =BD from 1.7.98 plus $500 once off. Further 3% increase =
to 5% max. from 1.7.99 following Committee recommendations.
Advance - 5% from 1.1.99 plus $500 one off payment. No agreed amount for =
second year but linked to company performance. As well, possible general =
increase through development of a new salary structure.
Great Southern - 5% from 1.1.99 plus $650 one off payment. Further 2% =
from 1.7.99 if agreement to enter into Enterprise Agreements.
These offers have not been accepted at this stage. The Generation =
companies will have salary increase negotiations commencing in the near =
future. As their awards will commence in July 1999 and expire in =
December 1999.
Disability Allowance - lt. has come to my attention that some councils =
under the Local Government (State) Award, are not paying the appropriate =
disability allowance, but rather absorbing it into pay rates. Please =
check with your employer and advise the Union if this allowance is not =
paid on top of your appropriate
pay rates.
Those of us who struggle for social justice must deal
with two general categories of people critical of our
efforts; those who are afraid to try themselves, and
those who are afraid that we will succeed.
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